Coyotes in my forest garden?

Hi folks. I am setting up a new forest garden. Part of it will be a annual crop (kitchen garden) and the other half will be a perennial mixed with annual forest garden.

I am wondering what to do with my compost like meat, bones, shellfish waste.. And I wonder if maybe I should bury this in shallow trenches around my forest garden as offerings for coyotes, in hopes that their regular presence might keep deer, and other small pests (racoon, rat, etc..) numbers minimized.. Is this realistic or crazy? The kitchen garden will be surrounded by a 3.5 high chicken wire fence, with 6" buried in the ground, not intended to keep out coyotes, but to mitigate deer, rabbit, etc... Maybe the coyotes can help out?

If this is a bad idea, then what should I do with my meat, bones, shellfish waste? A little insight for this new-to-rural die hard Permie out in West Washington, thanks folks.

Satamax Antone

gardener

Posts: 2128

Location: Southern alps, on the French side of the french /italian border 5000ft high Southern alpine climate.

46

posted 1 year ago

Shellfish, that goes to the chickens. Bones, you just burn theses in the woodfire, if you use that to heat yourself. A rocket can take care of thoses i'd think.

Basicly everything can go to the chickens,
Bones could be used as fuel for fires.

Just keep in mind that most pests are bug-sized, witch means predators like coyotes are not that useful.

My advice is to attract beneficial insects and birds that feed on lice and other pesky bugs.
Rabbit problems are easely solved with an airgun. And they give exellent free-range and free meat!

Wi Tim

Posts: 62

Location: North Idaho, zone 5a

posted 1 year ago

I guess you don't have kids around if you want to attract coyotes? And do you have bears around? Keep in mind that they can come, too.
Our dog keeps the coyotes away, but is powerless with the rabbit population.

I've got no option but to sell you all for scientific experiments. Or a tiny ad: